24 Facts About Alex Moumbaris

Alexandre Moumbaris is a political activist and former political prisoner.

Alex Moumbaris was born in Egypt to Greek parents, grew up in Australia, lived and worked in the UK, was imprisoned in South Africa and now lives in France.

Alex Moumbaris is known for his political activism against the apartheid regime in South Africa in the 1970s, and his subsequent incarceration in, and 1979 escape from, Pretoria Local Prison with Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee.

Alex Moumbaris worked for about nine years before becoming involved with the ANC as one of the "London Recruits".

Alex Moumbaris had not grown up in a political family, but when in Britain associated with Communists there and he was inspired by the communist resistance to the Axis occupation of Greece during World War II.

Alex Moumbaris was influenced by the Vietnam War and the Greek coup of the colonels in 1967.

Alex Moumbaris started associating with African National Congress exiles and beginning in 1967, he travelled in and out of South Africa transporting literature for the movement.

Alex Moumbaris once unfurled an ANC banner from a building in Durban, and was entrusted with more risky assignments.

Alex Moumbaris became involved with the ANC at a time when the organisation had suffered many setbacks.

Alex Moumbaris was the only non-South African prisoner, and when Jenkin met him, he appeared as "a little aloof".

Alex Moumbaris signalled his wish to be included in any possible escape plan to Jenkin even before the idea was presented to him, after Jenkin had mentioned he and Lee had brought some money into prison.

Alex Moumbaris became instrumental to the escape plan in several ways, making the early suggestion any escape plan would have to involve the making of keys, providing a hacksaw which he had secreted after plumbers had left it behind, and getting involved in some of the riskier aspects of the planning and testing of the scheme.

Alex Moumbaris, although enrolled in university courses, did not undertake formal studies at all while in prison; it was a cover so extra books could be obtained from the university library for everyone to make use of; it was a way of keeping themselves informed about the world.

Marie-Jose was repeatedly denied a visitor's visa to visit him in prison, and in February 1978 Alex Moumbaris went on a hunger strike to try to force the authorities to let her in, but after 10 days realised the futility of this and gave up.

Alex Moumbaris was visited in prison twice a year by his mother and young son, Boris, from France.

Alex Moumbaris was allowed to see the French envoy from time to time, who would assure him he was doing everything within his power to secure his release and persuade the authorities to let Marie-Jose visit him.

Alex Moumbaris grew cynical about these claims but continued to see him as it was another visit from an outsider, and he could ask him questions about France.

Alex Moumbaris afterwards said the prison was "luxury" compared to French prison.

In Paris, Alex Moumbaris organised the opening of the ANC office in 1981 and continued to assist the struggle against apartheid in various ways, including recruiting comrades for missions in South Africa for MK.

In March 1988, Alex Moumbaris was at the side of ANC Chief Representative Dulcie September in 1988 when she was shot and killed outside the office in Paris.

In May 2011, Alex Moumbaris was charged with making a "Public call to discrimination" and set to appear in court in Flers, in Normandy.

Alex Moumbaris was accused of having published, in the Press Newsletter, the article "Boycott Divestment Sanctions 2010", summing up the activities and successes of the BDS campaign during 2010.

Alex Moumbaris was still living in Normandy as of July 2017.

Alex Moumbaris is renamed Leonard Fontaine and played by Mark Leonard Winter.